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Page 152 MAJOR FIRES IN DUBOIS
Borough in accordance with Act of Assembly in such case made and
provided.
Passed this 20th day of June, A. D., 1888.
Geo. D. Hamor, Burgess
Attest : W. C. Pentz, Clerk.
This was an heroic measure. Two members of the Council
were interested in the fire, having had their business buildings
destroyed. The merchants losing their stock of goods, as well as the
owners of the buildings were greatly discouraged. Insurance rates
had been high, and the insurance carried probably did not cover 20%
of the loss.
The Council, however, stood heroically behind the new
ordinance and refused to permit wooden buildings except some small
one story structures erected for temporary business quarters. To
show how matters would have worked out, there are two of these
buildings standing at this date, viz: one on West Long Avenue on the
property of Charles Scalen, and the other at 105-107 West Long
Avenue. All other persons had enough patriotism to remove these
wooden structures.
A few persons undertook to put up wooden buildings but
were stopped by Council.
The second Opera House built in the City stood on North
Brady Street, then Courtney Street, and at once became the business
center. The auditorium was occupied by the Hibner-Hoover Hardware
Company. The gallery was occupied by D. L. Corbett Dry Goods. The
offices on the left hand side of the door were occupied by the
DuBois Deposit Bank, and the right side was occupied by the First
National Bank of DuBois City. The law office of W. C. Pentz was in
the same room with the Deposit Bank.
A relief committee was organized, of which Dr. J.
Vernon Bell, Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, was made
chairman. What supplies were received were promptly disposed of
through this committee. Dr. Bell was so fair in his dealings that
not a complaint was raised as to the work of this committee. Of
course, as in all other instances of this character, there were
persons who had not been burned out who applied for aid, but all
these cases were personally investigated and were turned down.
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